The Cleveland Browns have been big spenders the past two seasons, with the team inking Myles Garrett, Deshaun Watson and Denzel Ward to nine-figure contracts.
With less wiggle-room to sign free-agents on the salary cap, the Browns have to hit on a few more draft picks in order to keep the depth of the roster strong.
It’s always interesting to see 7-round mocks coming out closer to the draft, especially from blue-blood names of draft gurus.
This one is from The Athletic’s Dane Bruger (subscription required), who recently made his latest predictions for The Athletic.
Here’s how I graded out Brugler’s picks ahead of the 2022 NFL Draft.
Cleveland Browns, Round 2, Pick 44: Logan Hall, DL, Houston
Grade–A: Some are saying Hall is a first-round talent who is more likely to fall to the second because he’s still a work in progress on the defensive line.
His body went through a transformation that Houston is using to pitch recruits, as Hall added a lot of muscle to jump from from 250 pounds to 275.
From the Browns viewpoint, Hall offers versatility and the potential to rush the passer from both the edge and the inside.
Cougars’ defensive line coach Brian Early told the Akron Beacon Journal that Hall has “got things that you can’t coach with that type of length and athleticism.”
The Browns have been looking to add consistent pass rushers to accompany Garrett ever since the rookie joined the team back in 2019. They found some success in Jadeveon Clowney, who recorded 9.5 sacks a season ago, but have had no luck finding anyone who can be a true threat from the inside.
Cleveland Browns, Round 3, Pick 78: Alec Pierce, WR, Cincinnati
Grade A: After passing on a receiver in Round 2, the Browns have to go wideout here and Brugler agrees, mocking the Cincinnati product Cleveland’s way.
After watching the Browns draft speedster Anthony Schwartz a year ago, you could definitely see Andrew Berry plucking Pierce out of the field, especially after he put a 4.33-second 40-yard dash time on the cluck during March’s NFL Combine.
Besides the speed, Pierce has the size. He measured out at 6-foot-3, 211 pounds, while posting a 40.5-inch vertical jump.
He’s falling to the third round for a reason, though, and probably the biggest knock on him going into the draft is he really needs some polishing on running routes, according to various scouting reports published in the vast anals of the iterweb.
Cleveland Browns, Round 3 Pick 99: John Ridgeway, DT, Arkansas
Grade C: Brugler began his vignette on Ridgeway by writing Cleveland needs “beef” on the defensive line and the Browns recently addressed this issue by re-signing Sheldon Day and adding Stephen Weatherly from the Vikings.
Young veterans such as Jordan Elliott and Tommy Togiai are expected to compete for significant time and are being expected to take a step forward this season.
Taking Rideway here would be a developmental pick and it’s hard to imagine he’d get much time in 2022, especially after watching Togiai.
It’s been written Ridgeway can “flash” explosion at the line of scrimmage and can be excellent at shooting gaps, but on the downside, he can be taken out of the equation by just one blocker. Not a great things when you’re trying to stop the run.
Cleveland Browns, Round 4, Pick 118: Damarri Mathis, CB, Pitt
The Browns enter the 2022 NFL with the cornerback position reigning as one of the strongest position groups on the team.
Really, the Browns go five deep with Denzel Ward, Greg Newsome, Greedy Williams, Troy Hill and A.J. Green. So we’re talking about a fifth-corner who’s probably good enough to be another team’s No. 3.
With all that in mind, I’m not sure I’d be looking to spend a pick here on a corner, especially considering the state of the wide receiver room. Brugler’s mock has the Browns using a third rounder on Alec Pierce, but I might try to find another offensive gem with explosive potential.
As for Mathis’ fit, I could see the Browns taking him. He doesn’t do a great job of jamming receivers at the line, but Cleveland doesn’t really ask their corners to do that anyway. Why? It’s a great question.
It’s been written Mathis plays “faster than his 40-time,” and excels at backpedaling and getting his hips turned around. He’d probably be a good development project, especially when you’re Cleveland and can store him on the roster.
Cleveland Browns Round 6, pick 202: Gabe Brkic, K, Oklahoma
Grade B: I’m back and forth on using a pick to get a kicker. Ultimately, I’d argue in favor of doing so because the Browns window to win is now and nobody is more important at the end of a game when you’re 35 yards from the goal line with three second remaining.
Brkic would come to the Browns from Oklahoma, but he knows something about playing in the Cleveland area, having grown up in Chardon while attending Notre Dame Cathedral Latin.
This past season, as a redshirt junior, Brkic was a Lou Groza Award finalist, which honors the nation’s top college kicker. He was 20-26 on field goals and 5-of-7 on kicks of 50-yards or more. The five converted field goals from 50 or more yards led all FBS programs.
He was also a finalist in 2020, when he made 20-of-26 field goals. He was 17-of-17 on field goals as a freshman.
Cleveland Browns Round 7
Grade A–Pick 223: James Houston, Edge, Jackson State
Hard not to like this pick this late in the draft. Houston had a tremendous post-season, playing the college all-star game circuit. Played for Deion Sanders, who was more than happy to compare him to current Dallas Cowboys star Micah Parsons.
Grade C–Pick 246: Lucas Krull, TE, Pittsburgh
Probably an underrated college player, but more of a blocking tight end, which is fine playing behind David Njoku and Harrison Bryant.
Can be sneaky good at finding the soft spots in coverage, but may drop some easy ones.